[h2]Clean slate[/h2]
The livestock and animal section of the [i]Ark[/i] smelled like shit. Literally. Walter Neumann had considered asking someone to get him a gas mask from the [i]Vanguard's[/i] equipment storage, because these working conditions wouldn't be approved by any government agency before the world wars. Walter used to be a farmer, so he, along with a few others, had been assigned to taking care of the animals of the fleet. In an odd twist of fate, it turned out he'd been doing the same thing he was doing before they destroyed the world. Sadly for him, his job mostly required him to transport the animal biowaste to the [i]Neptune[/i] during one of the rare fleet refuel days, where it would be turned into the biofuel that all of the Crusade ships so desperately needed. He petted a small Labrador pup before turning to and looking out the nearby window, where he saw the [i]Neptune[/i] already getting closer. He didn't really like his impending task, but it was a necessity for the rest of the fleet. He walked towards the elevator, mentally preparing for his task, when the speakers on all of the ships crackled. 

Everyone on the ships stopped working for a moment as old TSUK propaganda music could be heard moments before the Khan, the leader of both the Naukan Crusade and the Trans-Steppe United Khanate started speaking. "Greetings citizens of the TSUK and colonists of the UNE. You have managed to surpass my expectations once again. Not only have you persevered the harsh steppes and wastelands of our home, but you have also worked tirelessly to build these ships. Then you agreed to live here for a long time until we can start making the colony, all for the future of humanity. I am proud to announce to you that your tireless labor has bore fruit. At the moment, the gate is just beyond the horizon. I recommend you all take a break from working until we've passed through so you can celebrate." Walter was delighted. No more shit-shoveling today!

He quickly went to the nearest dining hall, where he saw everyone was celebrating. The ships had been refueled, and were slowly making their way towards the gate. The three helicopters were flying next to eachother as fireworks were launched from all of the ships. 

The people in the bridge, including the Khan, his advisors and commanders, as well as the [i]Pioneer's[/i] captain were all celebrating this victory as the fleet slowly moved to join all of the other ships near the gate